Thursday, May 24, 2012

I really wanted to get this blog entry completed on Monday but foggy, overcast days are not great for satellite internet. After arriving home a week ago last Monday my week turned out to be a great one. Springtime in Cambridge Bay means many things to different people but the three that stick out for me are the arrival of birds, the sun not setting and the annual Cambridge Bay Frolics. The Frolics started on the 14th and ended on Victoria Day.

The crew from Department of Fisheries and Oceans arrived the day after for a meeting and we had them over for dinner the following day. Out of the four of them I had met two, Tyler and Les and it was great to finally meet Theresa and Xinhua who I talked to many times. Marg came over after dinner to join us in some laughs, it was a wonderful evening with friends.

During the Frolics I attended the parade and opening ceremonies on Friday, watched many ski-doo races and the best one was the Elder's race where they hopped onto the little machines that the kids use and away they went. I also finally got to watch our local drum dancers...twice! They do such an amazing job.

There were many highlights during this year's Frolics, one was on Saturday afternoon when the ladies that walked from Bay Chimo to Cambridge Bay arrived home. They left Bay Chimo on May 7th and after 220kms they all arrived home safely. They did this walk to raise money for cancer and to promote a healthy lifestyle and in the end they raised about $80,000. and the money is still coming in. It was an emotional homecoming that day and the next where there was a community celebration.

The next one for me was when our friend Angela received The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her dedication and fundraising efforts for Cancer Care. Angela does these amazing fundraising events during the year and I can't think of any person that deserves this more than her.

I will keep this entry short as there are many pictures to share with you.